The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-07

ruver. / knowcd then he he'd turned off
inter the laurel. An went on, whistfin'
ter make him low or ! never s'picioned
nuthin. An / KEN inter the house an
toll dad ez he'd better be a-lookin' after
Evcliny, fur | b'lieved she war a-settin'
her head ter run away an marry Abs Ion
kittrcdge."
"Waal, amt right up an down salts
fled we oughter done what we DONE" ex-
claimed Stephen, fretfully. ut don't
pear cdzacly right fur three men ter fire
on one"
Old Joel Quimbey in his armchair in
the chimney-corner, suddenly lifted his
head--a thin head, with fine white hair,
short and sparse, upon it. His thin,
lined face was clear-cut, with n pointed
chin and an acquiline nose. He main
tanned an air OF indignant and rebelious
grief, and had hitherto sat silent, a gnarled
and knotted hand on either arm of his
chair. Ills eyes cleaned suddenly from
under his heavy brows as he turned his
face upon his SONS. GLOW could we
know thar warn't but onc?'
He had not been q candidate for Justice
OF the peace for nothing; he had alb
sorbed something of the methods and
spirit of the law through sheer propinquity
to the Office. "We-uns wouldn't be pre-
sumed to know" And he ungrudgingly
gave himself all the benefit OF the doubt
that the law accords.
That's true word," exclaimed Ste
phen, quick TO console his conscience.
''Jes look ut the fac's now. We-uns in
plum black midnight hear a man a-gittin'
over our fence; we git our rifles; a-pckin'
through the chinkin we ketch glimge o.
him.
Hal cried out Timothy, with savage
satisfaction. 1--WE seen him by the light she
set ter lead him on"
lie was tall and lank, with delicately
hooked nose, high check bones, fierce
dark eyes and dark eyebrows, continually
elevated and corrugating his forehead.
His hair was thick and short and straight,
and he was clad in brown jeans, as were
the others, the trousers stuffed into great
cowhide boots reaching 10 the knee. He
fixed his fiery, intent gaze upon his brother
as the slower Stephen continued: can so
we blazed away
can one burned FOOLS so onlucky ez
ter hit him an not kill him." growled
Timothy, again intorrupting. "An' 80
whilst Eveliny runs out a-scrcamins,
He's dead. he's dead-ye hey shot him
deadn we'uns make no doubt but he IL
dead, an load up again, lest his frien's
mought rush in on we'uns willis, we
hedn't no use o. our shootin' irons. An
suddint-ye can't hear nothin' but les q
Dwell hootn' in the woods, or old Pa'son
Bates dogs a-howlin' acrost the Cove.
An We got out with a lantern, an thar's
jest pool O. blood in the door-yard, an
bloody tracks down ter the laurel"
"Eyeliny gone!" cried the old man,
shifting his hands together; "my leetle
darter! The only one ez never gin mo
emmy trouble. i couldn't hev made out ter
put up In this hyar wor'l no longer when
my wife died Of II hedn't been fur Eveliny.
Boys war wild and mischeevious, and folks
outside don't keer nothin' bout you-ef
they war 10 'lect We ter Office twould be ter
keep some other fellow from hevin' II, an
kase they 'spise him more'n We. An hyar
she's ruined OF an merried old Tom Kit
tredge's gran'son. Josiah Kittredges SON
when our folks amt spoke 10 none O. 'em
fur fifty ycar-Josiah Kittredge's son--hal
hal hail. He laughed aloud In tuneless
scorn OF himself and Of this freak Of for
ward destiny, and then fell 10 ringing bis
hands and calling upon Evelina.